Watercolour on paper
Signed on the front.
The moment I came across the secretary bird, native to the African continent, I knew I wanted to paint it. The elegant gait, enviable eyelashes, impressive wingspan and flamboyant head feathers all belie the incredible predator with prehistoric, muscular legs and sharp claws.
I wanted to create strong contrasts within the painting, with delicate hatching to infer the feathery texture and strong, solid strokes to highlight the bold features of the bird.
This painting would suit a wide mat with a dark frame to contrast and highlight the subtle colours.